Andy Brazil series implies a literary series authored by American author Patricia Cornwell whose birth name is Patricia Carroll Daniels. Cornwell, who is a sexagenarian, was born in June 1956 and her birthplace is Miami upon Florida, in the United States. The scribbler, who is an alumna of Davidson College, spent her formative years in Montreat upon North Carolina and is presently domiciled in Boston. Cornwell’s current occupation is writing but she previously worked as a crime reporter, computer analyst, biographer, and technical writer. Her niche is specifically mystery and thriller books, literature, and fiction genres. The series centres around the character of Andy Brazil, who starts the series as a young reporter and volunteer police officer, who has been tasked to followed the police department as they go about their everyday duties. The series also features Judy Hammer, who is the chief of police in the city of Charlotte, as well as her deputy, Virginia West. The series is a bit of a departure for Patricia Cornwell, as she made her name writing crime fiction based around forensic investigations, while the Andy Brazil series of books is a more traditional take on the genre, with police investigating crimes, interviewing suspects and trying to piece all the clues together.

Order of Andy Brazil Series

Patricia Cornwell, who has been writing voraciously since 1990, opines that her motivations, especially her plunge into writing, are more or less escapism. She states that her father subjected her to emotional abuse, and this somewhat motivated her; however, it was a renowned evangelist’s wife who encouraged Cornwell to pursue a writing career.

Andy Brazil series comprises of three major works, excluding two omnibuses. The first book in the Andy Brazil series has 64 editions and the very first edition was initially published in 1996, titled Hornet’s Nest; and this book is shelved under the mystery, fiction, thriller, and crime genres.

The featured main central characters in Andy Brazil series are Judy Hammer, Virginia West, and Andy Brazil. Meet protagonists Hammer and Brazil. On the one hand, Hammer serves as the police chief of Charlotte Police Department and is deputized by West who is a quadragenarian. On the other hand, Brazil is a youthful journalist, volunteer policeman, and stringer attached to the police. The three are embroiled in police procedural tasks wherein Andy Brazil learns the police duties and suchlike life-threatening undertakings at the coalface.

The first book in the Andy Brazil and Judy Hammer series of books is Hornet’s Nest, which was published in 1997. Unlike a lot of books in the crime fiction genre, the overlying arch in Hornet’s Nest is more a look at the three different characters of Andy Brazil, Judy Hammer and Virginia West. Andy Brazil is tasked with getting to the heart of everyday policing, so he sets out walking the beat with Judy Hammer and Virginia West. What he sees is both exciting and boring, it is funny and gut-wrenchingly tragic, and that there is a fine line between being a hero and dying. It also reveals the personalities behind the police officers, with Judy Hammer as always professional but often troubled superior, and Virginia West the beautiful woman who is too attached to her job to have a steady and trouble-free personal life. Hornet’s Nest was also adapted into a TV movie, starring Virginia Madsen as Judy Hammer, Sherry Stringfield plays Virginia West, and Robbie Amell plays the character of Andy Brazil. Hornet’s Nest is set in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Patricia Cornwell followed up Hornet’s Nest with Southern Cross, which was published in 1999. This time, Cornwell moves the action to the city of Richmond, Virginia, an area she knows well. However, she still focuses on the three main characters of Andy Brazil, now a rookie police officer and Deputy Chief Virginia West. The three of them must overcome hostility from the locals as well as officials to help try and clean up the city which is reeling from a spate of robberies and murders, as well as corruption at the highest level.

The final book in the Andy Brazil series of books, Isle of Dogs, was published in 2001. Isle of Dogs is, again, set in Virginia, where Judy Hammer is now the heart of the State Police, and Andy Brazil has become a state trooper and serves as a loyal aide to Hammer.

Andy Brazil Awards

Author Patricia Cornwell has clinched several notable literary prizes. In 1991, Patricia Cornwell clinched the Edgar Award, in the Best First Novel category, courtesy of her 1990 book titled Postmortem—it is the first in Kay Scarpetta series. Also in 1991, the said book bagged Macavity Award, in the Best First Mystery Novel section; and Anthony Award, in the Best First Novel category. Postmortem also clinched CWA New Blood Dagger in 1990; and Prix du Roman d’Adventures in 1992.

In 1993, Patricia Cornwell’s book Cruel & Unusual, the forth book in Kay Scarpetta series, clinched a Gold Dagger, in Fiction section. Cornwell’s 2008 book named Book of the Dead won National Book Awards, in the Thriller & Crime Novel category. In 2011, Cornwell’s 2011 book Red Mist (the nineteenth book in the aforementioned series) clinched RBA International Prize.

Andy Brazil Books into Movies and TV Shows

Several books in Patricia Cornwell’s bibliography have been adapted for the big screen. Cornwell’s Win Garano duology has a film adaptation. The first novel in the duology, the 2006 book named At Risk, has a similarly titled 2010 movie; and starred Andie MacDowell alongside Daniel Sunjata who appears as Monique Lamont and Win Garano, respectively. The other 2008 book named The Front was made into a 2010 film called The Front, also starring Daniel Sunjata plus Andie MacDowell.

There is a 1999 TV movie named A.T.F. based on Cornwell’s story, and starring Amy Brenneman alongside Kathy Baker who appear as A.T.F. Director Maggie Hale and Agent Robin O’Brien, respectively. Patricia Cornwell’s 1996 book Hornet’s Nest was turned into a 2012 TV movie called Hornet’s Nest; the starring actors are Sherry Stringfield, Robbie Amell, and Virginia Madsen who appear as West, Brazil, and Hammer, respectively.

Best Andy Brazil Books

In terms of the best books in Andy Brazil, there aren’t many choices because it is a trilogy. Even then these are the best two books in the said series.

Hornet’s Nest: The first is Hornet’s Nest which has already been discussed.

Isle of Dogs: The second is named Isle of Dogs. This is the second book in Andy Brazil series and was published in 2001. It revolves around a no-nonsense high-profile Virginian law enforcer whose method of restoring road sanity prompts civil unrest.

Other Book Series You May Like

Readers who liked Andy Brazil series also liked these suchlike series of books. The first is “Alex Delaware” series, and is penned by Jonathan Kellerman. It features a Los Angeles-based child psychologist and doctorate holder named Alex Delaware who is angling for unraveling a series of murder mysteries.

The second is “Archy McNally” series, and is penned by Lawrence Sanders. It features protagonist Archy McNally, a carefree playboy who doubles up as a private investigator; McNally’s clientele constitutes of the well-off judicious and injudicious customer base of a law firm, especially their scandalous lives. The third is titled “Allan Gregory” series, and is authored by Stephen White. It features protagonist Allan Gregory, a Boulder-based clinical psychologist who is embroiled in murder investigations.

Andy Brazil FAQs

Q: Who writes the Andy Brazil series of books?

A: The Andy Brazil series of books is written by American crime fiction author Patricia Cornwell.

Q: What is the first book in the Andy Brazil series?

A: The first book in the Andy Brazil series of books is Hornet’s Nest, which was published in 1997.

What Is The Next Book in The Andy Brazil Series?

There doesn't seem to be an upcoming book in The Andy Brazil Series. The newest book is Isle of Dogs and was released on November, 30th 2000.

This series isn’t for everyone as a lot of review you will see online can attest. That said, I think it is a really fun and interesting take on police work and worth a read. Everyone loves Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta series and this is seen as a massive departure. The reason is because this is a character study and not really a “police/crime story”.

It really tells the story of the people behind the job and, despite being called the Andy Brazil series, features two really strong female characters in Judy Hammer and Virginia West. Not so much of a crime story, but more like getting to know the people who does these jobs. I liked it, but it might not be for everyone.

Recent Author Interviews

About Us

We're a group of book lovers whose sole goal is to eventually list every author and book series there is in publication order and chronological order. The site is updated daily with new authors and series.